harmony

MLB Trade Rumors projects Jaime Garcia with a two-year, $16 million contract: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/11/2017-18-top-50-mlb-free-agents-with-predictions.html FanGraphs columnist Dave Cameron projected Garcia with a two-year, $20 million contract while the FanGraphs median crowdsource same in at three years and $36 million: https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/2018-top-50-free-agents/ Neither MLB Trade Rumors nor FanGraphs projected Anibal Sanchez.

Based largely on minor league numbers, Steamer projects slash lines for prospects even with a projection of only one plate appearance. Here are the 2018 for Clint Frazier and Michael Chavis (who is less than one year younger than Frazier): CF .247/.312/.434/.746, wRC+ 96 MC .247/.295/.439/.734, wRC+ 88 http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=15983&position=OF http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=sa828673&position=3B

For what it's worth, with the Red Sox, Hanley Ramirez has posted 1.2 bWAR in 387 games, Pablo Sandoval a negative 2.1 bWAR in 161 games, Adrian Gonzalez 9.9 bWAR in 282 games and Carl Crawford with 0.6 bWAR in 161 games.

J.D. Martinez and Hanley Ramirez provide interesting comps. Ramirez, who was seven months older than Martinez's current age when he signed with the Red Sox, had posted 11.2 fWAR in 371 games over the three previous seasons. J.D. Martinez has posted 10.6 fWAR in 397 games over the past three seasons.

Boston remains the most likely landing spot for J.D. Martinez. The issues are the price and duration of his contract. A short-term gain could come with a long-term detriment. MLB Trade Rumors ranked Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval as the top two hitters in the 2014-15 free agent class: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2014/11/2014-15-top-50-free-agents-with-predictions.html ... while ranking J.D. Martinez as the top hitter in this year's lackluster free agent class: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/11/2017-18-top-50-mlb-free-agents-with-predictions.html

According to the Boston Herald article, Steven Wright's case was "retired" but not dismissed in the Tennessee court. I don't know how Tennessee handles domestic violence cases but my jurisdiction offers a deferred sentencing program for select first-time offenders. Under the program the accused pleads guilty but sentencing is postponed to give the individual to opportunity to complete domestic violence treatment. The case is dismissed upon successful completion of treatment. An accused may choose the deferred sentencing program for several reasons. He (or she) may think he or she is innocent of all charges but worries that a judge or jury might decide otherwise. He or she may welcome the treatment for his or her inappropriate behavior even if he or she thinks the prosecutor cannot prove each element of each crime. Or he or she might agree that he or she is guilty of all charges but views deferred sentencing as a means of avoiding a conviction and its collateral consequences (including loss of the right to carry a gun). I have no idea where Steven Wright falls on that continuum (if he does at all). But the MLB investigators may look favorably upon Wright if he promptly and voluntarily entered such a program. Or not.

Yonder Alonso, who is 30 years old, has posted 5.7 fWAR in 806 career games, including 2.4 fWAR in 142 games this year. Mitch Moreland, who is 32 years old, has posted 5.1 fWAR in 922 career games, including 0.9 fWAR in 149 games this year. Steamer projects 2018 WAR of 1.0 in 122 games for Alonso and 1.2 in 138 games for Moreland: http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=3086&position=1B http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=2530&position=1B

Last year Jackie Bradley Jr. posted a UZR/150 of 4.9 over 1,204.12 innings in center field while Yankee outfielder Aaron Hicks posted a UZR/150 of 13.3 over 440.2 innings in center field: http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=cf&stats=fld&lg=all&qual=200&type=1&season=2017&month=0&season1=2017&ind=0&team=0&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0&sort=24,d Other metrics give Bradley the edge over Hicks: http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=cf&stats=fld&lg=all&qual=200&type=1&season=2017&month=0&season1=2017&ind=0&team=0&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0&sort=25,d

As with Adrian Gonzalez, the Red Sox would be the fourth MLB organization for J.D. Martinez, a somewhat unusual fact for coveted players of their ages.

https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/what-front-offices-have-to-say-about-the-changing-game/

From today's MLB Trade Rumors chat with Steve Adams: https://www.jotcast.com/chat/chat-with-mlbtrs-steve-adams-12-19-17-2850.html This Seattle fan is sorely disappointed with the Mariner off-season so far but I heartily recommend the informative and entertaining podcasts with GM Jerry Dipoto: http://mlb.mlb.com/fan_forum/podcasts/index.jsp?c_id=sea&podcast=wheelhouse It's not just for Mariner fans.

The lines over the past four seasons for two somewhat defensively challenged righthand-hitting outfielders: Player A 2645 PA, .287/.359/.549/.908, 166 HR, 147 OPS+, 18.6 bWAR, 16.5 fWAR Player B 2143 PA, .300/.362/.574/.936, 128 HR, 149 OPS+, 15.2 bWAR, 14.6 fWAR Player A is Nelson Cruz and Player B is J.D. Martinez, who is seven years younger than Cruz. It means nothing but I found the numbers interesting.

Indeed, Adrian Gonzalez posted 6.1 fWAR in his first season in Boston (and 2.8 fWAR in 123 games before his trade to the Dodgers the following year). The first year of J.D. Martinez's pending contract is not the concern ... it's the final years. The Red Sox signed Gonzalez to a seven-year, $154 million extension on April 15, 2011, when Gonzalez was about a year younger than Martinez's current age. The Gonzalez extension covered his age 30-36 seasons. The Martinez contract, starting with his age 30 season in 2018, may or may not approach the Gonzalez contract in dollars and duration.

The current J.D. Martinez fever among Red Sox fans reminds me of the clamor for Adrian Gonzalez seven off-seasons ago. Compare the lines for Martinez today and Gonzalez in December 2010: AG 7 seasons, 3631 PA, .284/.368/.507/.875, OPS+ 137, 19.6 bWAR, 18.3 fWAR JM 7 seasons, 3118 PA, .285/.342/.514/.857, OPS+ 130, 13.7 bWAR, 13.5 fWAR Of course, Gonzalez was acquired via trade, not free agency. Martinez is about 20 months older today than Gonzalez was on the day of the trade.

I wonder what team(s) the Red Sox were bidding against for Mitch Moreland's services.

The $22 million that Hanley Ramirez is owed in 2018 is a sunken cost.

Eight years ago the Red Sox took a chance on an inconsistent corner infielder who, like Eric Hosmer, had won multiple Gold Gloves. Compare that player's line at the time and Hosmer's current line: XX 6877 PA, .270/.325/.453/.779, OPS+ 105 EH 4393 PA, .284/.342/.439/.781. OPS+ 111 Player XX, of course, was Adrian Beltre, who eight years ago was two years older than Hosmer's current age. Hosmer may not be the most attractive free agent but the 28-year-old should be given more credit.

One blogger contends the Red Sox need to sign Eric Hosmer and J.D. Martinez: https://thesporttank.com/2017/12/12/red-sox-must-make-a-play-for-both-eric-hosmer-and-j-d-martinez/

The Seattle Mariners have two Gold Glove-winning second basemen each with multiple All Star Game appearances (10 combined). However, I don't see a good match in a Red Sox trade for Robinson Cano or Dee Gordon.:)

Boston GM Dave Dombrowski reportedly is "focused on getting one person." http://www.masslive.com/redsox/index.ssf/2017/12/alex_cora_on_boston_red_sox_qu.html

Boston GM Dave Dombrowski reportedly is "focused on getting one person." http://www.masslive.com/redsox/index.ssf/2017/12/alex_cora_on_boston_red_sox_qu.html

And a front office could falsely tell an agent that another player wants to sign a contract that represents a better value for the team. Agents and front offices earn their reputations ... and a bad reputation is bad for business. I suspect Scott Boras is doing fine.

Perhaps J.D, Martinez has told Scott Boras that he does not want to come to Boston because, among other reasons, the Red Sox outfield is filled with Mookie Betts, Jackie Bradley Jr. and Andrew Benintendi. Boras may keep the Red Sox in the loop only to drive up the price for other suitors. For all we know Boras can accurately tell other teams that Martinez has an offer of X years and X dollars from other club. Of course, this is mere speculation.

But the Red Sox remain in the market for a first baseman ...

The Dodgers and Braves execute a creative salary swap: The Braves have already designated Adrian Gonzalez for assignment: